Comment by Janissary

November 14, 2007 @ 12:33 pm

A song by former entertainer and Harvard math professor Tom Lehrer, from long before you were born. (Some things never change.) Prof. Lehrer always accompanied himself on the piano, styled himself as folks song singer and asked that his audiences consider him to be “playing an 88-string guitar.”
http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/t/tomlehrer3903.html

His “Send the Marines!” also speaks to our time:
http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/t/tomlehrer3903/sendthemarines185498.html
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One of the big news items of the past year concerned the fact that China, which we called “Red China,” exploded a nuclear bomb, which we called a “device.” Then Indonesia announced that it was going to have one soon, and proliferation became the word of the day. Here’s a song about that:

First we got the bomb, and that was good,
‘Cause we love peace and motherhood.
Then Russia got the bomb, but that’s okay,
‘Cause the balance of power’s maintained that way.
Who’s next?

France got the bomb, but don’t you grieve,
‘Cause they’re on our side (I believe).
China got the bomb, but have no fears,
They can’t wipe us out for at least five years.
Who’s next?

Then Indonesia claimed that they
Were gonna get one any day.
South Africa wants two, that’s right:
One for the black and one for the white.
Who’s next?

Egypt’s gonna get one too,
Just to use on you-know-who.
So Israel’s getting tense.
Wants one in self defense.
“The Lord’s our shepherd,” says the psalm,
But just in case, we better get a bomb.
Who’s next?

Luxembourg is next to go,
And (who knows?) maybe Monaco.
We’ll try to stay serene and calm
When Alabama gets the bomb.
Who’s next?
Who’s next?
Who’s next?
Who’s next?